LAX international passenger traffic hit record high in 2013

International passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport hit a record high of 17.9 million people in 2013, breaking the previous record of 17.5 million set in 2005, airport officials said Friday.

The jump in international passenger traffic, which is up 4.1 percent from 2012’s 17.2 million, “is attributable to an improving worldwide economy, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and to a modest strengthening of the Southern California economy,’’ said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, the agency that owns and operates LAX, LA/Ontario International Airport and Van Nuys Airport.

“In addition, U.S. and overseas airlines are starting or expanding international service at LAX as a result of our ongoing, multibillion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, which is complemented by major airlines investing hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate their respective domestic terminals,’’ she said.

Total passenger volume in 2013 was up 4.7 percent to 66.7 million from the previous year’s 63.7 million people, with international travelers representing 26.7 percent, while domestic passenger volume rose 4.9 percent, from 46.5 million in 2012 to 48.8 million.

The number of aircraft landing and takeoffs in 2013 grew 1.6 percent, from 605,480 to 614,917.

Total air cargo volume fell in 2013, down 1.5 percent to 1.9 million tons.